Electrically-controlled switch.



B. R. CARICHOFF.

ELBGTRIGALLY GONTBOLLED SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED DE-U. 2, 1908-. 953,369. Patenteamanzsa, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

r if 3 WITNESSL'S: INYLNTUR s .FEEM R. E'HICHFI:

"fpm/w 535W@ E. R. CARIGQPF.

ELECTRIGALLY GONTROLLED SWITCH. PPLIOATION FILED 1120.2, 190e.

953,369. Patented Map.29,191o.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MTNESSES: INVENTUR UDEM' R. E'AHIDHUFE Patented 1m29, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. R. GARICHOFF.

BLBGTBIGALLY coNTBoLLED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 2, 1908.

.TN VEN TD1?. EUGENE R. .T'AHIUHUFT E. R. GARIGHOPF. BLEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED SWITCH. APLIOATION FILED DEO. 2, 1908.

Patented Mar.29, 1910.

4 sums-sum 4.

Fig. 4,

E a :c 51 ul WITNESS/E5 ZNYENTUR A- mg( @g d EUG-ENE' R. CARICHUFR .AIT TY un i srarns Pa'rnnfr oiririon.

EUGENE R. CARCHF, F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ELECTRICALLY-CONTBOTLED SWITCH.

assess.

n Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Marw` 29, 192.0.

Application filed December 2, 1998. Serial No. 465,745;

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that l, EUGENE lt. Canicnorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Itchenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Electrically-Controlled Switches, of which the following is a speci-iication,

My invention relates to electrically controlled switches, and particularly to an arrangement of a plurality of such switches designed for operation in succession..

ln systems of motor control of the separately-actuated contact type, it is the oustom to employ a pluralityo electrically controlled switches or contactors for regulating the amount of resistance in the motor circuit. lVhen a plurality of contactors are employed for this purpose it. is usual to arrange them so that they will close in regular succession with a certain interval of time between their operation, this interval often being coritrolled by the current. in the moto'i` circuit. rlhe successive operation of the contactors in such arrangements has been providedfor l iii many d'ilierent way/s, one of' thebestl known being by the use of interlocking switches operated by the contactors and arranged to com letetlie control circuits in the required orc er, a Jso-called notching relay v heilig employed for the purpose ot insuring a certain interval of time between the operation of successive switches, depending, to a certain extent, upon the current in the motor circuit. ln such systems of motor control, particularly th'ose in which a plurality of motors are controlled according to the well-known series arallel method, now almost universally use in the operation of electrically driven cars, a. large number of interlocking switches are necessary and the control circuits are Aquite numerous 'and intricate. t

The general object of my invention is to provide a new and improved, constructionl and arrangement of successively operated switches in which few interlocking switches are required and which will be simple in construction and eliicient and reliable inoperation. To this end, I have devised certain arrangements and constructions which will be y understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

For the sake of simplicity l have shown movable contact member to whic my invention as embodied in certain simple systems of motor control, but these are merely illustrative and, as will be obvious to those skilled in this art, it is equally applicable to other systems of control for dynamo-electric machinery. ln fact, my iiivention is adapted for use' in any connection where it is desirable to close a plurality of switches in succession.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates, in a diagrammatic way, one form of my invention embodied in` a simple system of motor control; Fig. 2 is a modified form of the arrangement shown in l41 ig. 1; Fig. 3 shows still another modification of the system of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows another airannfement in which my invention may be embodied.

Referring to Fig. 1, M indicates a motor to be controlled. R1, R2 and R3 are sections of resistance located in the motor circuit and arranged to be sliort-circuited by switches 1, 2 and 3. A line switch 4- in closing connects the motor circuit to the source as will be clear from the diagram. A master switch K, shown in the usual conventional way and having an oli l position and two on posit-ions'm and y, controls the operation of the switches 1 to L1, as hereinafter explained.

`Each'oii the switches 1 to 4 com rises a is secured, by means 'of a rod 11, a core of magnetic material 12 arranged for sliding movement in a frame 13 of magnetic a form clear from the drawing. Extending through a hole in the upper part of the frame 13 is an actuating member consisting of a rod or core 14 of magnetic material, the lower end of which normally rests upon the top of the core 12. This rod 14 passes through an extension 15 of the frame 13 surrounded by a coil 16 which when enei'- gized produces a magnetic field through the. frame 13, the rod 14 and the core 12, as hereinafter explained. .ln order to insure the rod 14 and the core 19. sliding freely in the trame 13 without sticking, the holes through which these parts ass may be lined with tubes of brass or ot er non-magnetic material. The rods 14 pass freely throu h holes in a bar 19 which forms one side o a quadrilateral frame and are provided with heads 20 by which the rods may be lifted when the bar 19 is raised. The quadrilateral frame consists of a shaft 21, mounted for material ot partial rotation, 22 and 23 in the outer ends of which is pivoted the bar 19, as shown in thedrawing. One end or, in fact, any portion of the bar 19, is engaged by a rod 25 extending from the core 26 of a relay Q. This relay Q may be of any suitable design, and, as shown, comprises a frame 27 within which are mounted an actuating coil 28 and a holdin overload coil 29, within the fields of whic the movable core 26 moves. The lower end of the rod 25 is provided with snap contact \members 30, of a well-known form, which, the relay is in the position shown, electrical connection between the xed contact studs 31 and 32 connected in series with the actuating coil 28 of the relay. When the core 26 of the relay moves up the snap contact members 30 are thrown out of engagement with the studs 31 and 32 and against the stops 33 and 34, lthereby interrupting the current through the coil 28. The coil 29 is arranged in the motor circuit and is so designed that if the current in the latter is higher than a certain safe value a field will be produced in the relay Q sufficient to hold the core 26 in its raised osition. 1f, however, the current in the coil) 29 does not rise to this value, the core 26 will drop and when in its lower position the snap contact members 30 will return to the position shown and will again complete the circuit through the coil 28, thereby causing the relay to pull up again. In this way the relay Q serves as means for reciprocatinr the bar 19 in an approximately vertical p ane, thereby raising and lowering the rods 14.

The field structure of the switches 1 to 4 and the proportions of the coils 16 are such that these coils when energized each produce a ma netic field through its frame 13, rod 14 and core 12 which causes magnetic adhesion between the rod 14 and the core 12,*thereby causing the core 12 to be raised when the rod 14 is lifted. The coils 16 have a further function of producing a ma netic eld from the extensions 15, throng the cores 12 such that when the latter have been brought to their raised position they will be rmly held there as long as the coils are energized. The circuits through the coils 16 on the switches 1, 2 and 3 are completed, respectively, through interlocking switches 35, 36 and 37 closed by the switches 4, 1 and 2in closing.- Currentfor these coils is furclear from the diagram. through the actuating `coil 28 rocating relay Q to which are secured arms stacco as follows: When the master switch is thrown to its first position the circuit from the source L, through the wire 38 and the coil 16 on the line switch 4, pleted, but this switch will not close since the field produced by this coil is insufficient to pull up the core 12. When, however, the master switch is moved to its second position y, a circuit is completed through the wire 41 and the actuating coil 28 on the relay Q and this relay pulls up lifting the bar 19 and raising allthe rods 14. The magnetizin coil 16 of the switch 4 being energized t e core 12 adheres to the rod 14 and 1s raised y the latter, thereby closing the switch 4. ln its raised position the core 12 en ages with extension 15 of the frame 13 an is held in that position b the magnetizing ei'ect of the coil 16, in ependent y of the rod 14. Closing 'of the switch 4 com pletes the connection of the motor to the source through all of the 'resistance R1, R The interlocking switch 35 is closed at the same time and completes the circuit through the magnetizing coil 16 of the switch 1. The relay Q in pulling up interrupts its circuit through the actuating coil 28 by the snapping over of the contact members 30 away from the contacts 31 and 32 and into engagement with the stops 33 and 3.4, and the core of this relay drops at once unless an excessive current in the motor circuit enero'izes the holding coil 29 sufciently to l hold the relay up. vlVhen the core of the relay Q drops, the bar 19 falls with it and lowers the rods 14 into re-ngagement with their respective cores 12. The relay Q in dropping completes the circuit through its actuating coil 28 and goes up again, thereby again ifting the bar 19 and the rods 14. Since the coil 16 of the switch 1 is energized, the core 12 of this switch will now adhere to the rod 14 and this switch will be closed in the same-inanner as in the case of the switch '4. The switch 1 in closing short-circuits the section of resistance R1 and increases the potential applied to the motor. The interlocking switch 36 being closed, a. circuit is completed through the magnetizing coil on the switch 2, and operation oi this switch takes place on the next upward movement of the bar 19. In this way the switches 4, 1, 2 and 3 are closed in succession, under the control of the current in the motor circuit passing through the holding coil 29 on the relay Q, as long as themaster switch K is held in its position 3,'. If at any time the operator desires to stop the successive closin of the switches he can do so by throwing iis master switch the circuit tuatin ruptef stopped.

back to the position m, whereupon through the wire 41 and the accoil 28 of the relay Q will be interand reciprocation of this relay The circuit through'the wire 38,

however, will be 'maintained and those of the switches 4, 1, 2 and 3 which have 'closed will be held in that condition. Upon throwingthe master switch back to the oil' position all the switches 4, 1, 2 and 3 will, of course, open. The switch 3 in closing opens the interlocking switch '10 in ,f the circuit through the actuating coil 28 of the relay,`

and :turther needless operation ofl thereciprocating relay is prevented.

The system ofFig. 2 is very similarvto that of Fig. 1, the difference being that, in the system of Fig. 1, the magnetizing coils ot" the resistance controlling 'switches are supplied with current from a control circuit.- passing through the master switch, while in the system of Fig. 2 the magnetizing Ycoils of the resistance controlling switches are each-,connected directly in the motor circuit by the closing of the preceding switch. That this is the case will be apparent from the diagram, it being clear that, when the line switch 4.a closes, a circuit to the motor is completedthrough the magnetizing coil of the resistance controlling switchv 1a. It is obvious, also, that closing oi switch 1n causes the motor current to pass `through the magnetizing coil lof switch 2, and that closing of switch 2a changes the path of mot-or current to the coil ofthe switch 3*. rl`he switches in the system of F i 2l will close insuccession under the contro of the reciprocating" relay QP in the same manner as above described in connection with the system of Fig. 1. Closing of the last resistance switch 3 opens an interlocking switch 40fi which interrupts the actuating coil of the reciprocating relay Qa as 1n the case of the system of Fig. 1. It is evident that with the system of Fig. 2 the number ot interlocking switches necessary is reduced to one and the system-is thus rendered very simple. t

The system of Fig; 3 also resembles that of Fig. 1, the dierence residing in the mechanism by which certain parts are given a reciprocating motion and close the switches one after another. Instead of the oivoted qnadrilateral frame illustrated in igs, 1 and 2,1 have shown in Fig. 3 an individual electromagnetic reciprocating device for each or the switches. As in the case of thcswitches of Fig. 1, each switch 4b, lb, 2b and il of Fig. 3, comprises a movable contact member 10b to which is secured, by means of 'a rod 11b, a core 12b of magnetic material arranged for sliding movement in a frame 13". As in the system of Fig. 1, the core 12h is' lifted b the magnetic adhesion between it and a. ro( or core 14h of magnetic material and is held in its raised position magnetically by adhesion to the end of the extension 15b. 'A coil 16b serves, when energized, to produce the necessary magnetic ield for these operations as in the the switches.

systems of Fi s. 1 and 2. In the switches preferably by a non-magnetic connection, in

order that the field produced by the coil 51 ma not interfere with that produced by the coi 16"'.` The coils 51 are all connected in series and means is rovidedv for periodically interrupting and completing the circuit through them in order to cause the reciprocation ot the cores 50 and the conscquent rising and falling of ythe rods 14h.

This circuit interrupting means may be ot"l any suitable form, and, as shown, comprises snap action contact members 801 which cooperate with ixed contacts 31b and 32" and are thrown into and out of engagement with these contacts by the movement of the core 50 of the switch 3b. in the construc-l tion shown these snap contact members 30".

are carried by a rod 58 extending upward from the core 50 ot the switch 3b, to which rod is secured one of the members of a dash po't 54 which serves to retard the downward movement of these reciprocating parts and thus gives va time limit to the operation of rThe switch 3b may be provided with a coil 20", connected in the motor circuit, which serves to hold the reciprocating parts of the switch in their upward position, thereby maintaining the circuit through the coils 51- interrupted, as long as an overload exists, thus retardin l'the successive closing of the switches. `/Vith this arrangement 1t is clear that when the master switch K is thrown to its position y, the wires 38 and 41h are energized and the re- `ciprocation of the cores'50 and rods 14h of cach switch will commence. As in the case of the system of Fig. 31, the coils 16" of the4 switches are energized successively and closing loi" the switches one after another, therefore, takes place. The dash pot 54 insures a certain time interval between closing of the switches and the overloadcoil 29b increases this interval if at any time the current in the motor circuit exceeds a certain sate value. When the switch 3b has closed, its core 50 and the rod 53 are held in their uper position and the circuit through the coi s 51 is permanently interrupted at the snap contacts.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the switches which it is desired to close in succession are not 4actuated directly by the reciprocating members. instead, the reciprocating members form the actuating members of-rclayswhich closeand open the control circuits for the switches and thereby cause the latter to operate in the desired order. In Ithe system of Fig. A., also,

I have shown a different arrangement of reciprocating mechanism, namely,-a pilot motor arranged to rotate a shaft upon which are cams coperating with the reciprocating members of the various relays. In this systern the motor to be controlled is indicated at M, the starting resistances at R1, R2 and R3, these being shortcircuited by electromagnetically operated switches or contactors 1, 2 and 3, respectively. A contactor 4 serves as a line switch, and a master controller K regulates the operation of the switches, as hereinafter explained. Above the switches 4, 1, 2 and 3 are diagrammatically shown relays A, B, C and D which, intheir construction and principle of operation, resemble the switches of the system of Fig. 1. Each relay comprises a field frame 13 through a 'hole in which a core 12 of magnetic material isA arranged for movement. A rod 11 extends downwardly from each core 12 andV carries contact disks, of any suitable form, shown in the usual conventional manner. 1n the arrangement shown, when the core 12 is raised, the upper disk 60 comes into engagement with its cooperating xed contacts and the lower disk 61 is directly afterward lifted from its cooperating contacts. Each relay'has a magnetizing coil 16 which, when energized, acts in the same manner as in the, switches oi Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to cause magnetic adhesion between the rods or cores 14 and the cores 12, and also to hold the cores 12 in their raised positions in engagement with the extensions 15 of the trames 13. The rods 14 are provided at their upper ends with rings 62, within which rotate cams 63 secured to a shaft 64 driven by a motor P through gearing 65, or in any other suitable Way. With this arrangement it is clear that rotation of the shaft 64 will cause vertical reciprocation of the rods' 14 unless the latter are held in their raised position by their co erating cores 12 having been raised, un er which condition the cams 63 will rotate freely within the rings 62. The field 66 of the motor l? is excited through a wire 41. connected to the source through the master controller K as shown. The armature 67 may receive its current through a circuit 68 by which it is connected in shunt to a resistance 1', this circuit lbeing interrupted `by an overload relay O if the current in the motor circuit exceeds a certain value. The

arrangement 'of control circuits will be easily understood from the diagram and from the following description of the operation of the syste vVihen the switch K of Fig. 4 is thrown to its position y, a circuit from the source is completed through the wire 41 and the field 66 of the pilot motor l?. At the same time a circuit is made throu h the wire 3 the magnetizing coil 16 o the relay AI, andv through the lower contacts 61 on all the relays and resistances r1, r2, rg and fr, to

ound. The armature of themotor F, being connected in shunt tothe resistance 1', is supplied with current and the pilot motoi` the .rods 14. The magnetizing coil V16 of the relay A being energized the core 12 of this relay magnetically adheresto the rod 14 and is raised with it thereby closing the contact 60 and opening the Contact 61 of this relay. rl`he magnetizing coils 16 of the relays B, C and D not being initially energized, the' rods 14c of these relays will at irst rise without raising their coperatin cores 12. Closing of the contact 66 and opening of the contact 6l inserts the actuating coil of the switch 4 and magnetizing coil 16 of the relay B in the control circuit in place of the resistance r1. The switch 4 thereupon closes and connects the motor M to the source through all of the resistance R1, R2 and R3. Energization'oic the coil 16 of the relay B will, however,'h'ave no effect upon the operation of this I'relay until its rod 14 has beenlowered into engagement with begins to run thereby reciprocating its cooperating core 12, since, as in the sysvrelay B will magnetically adhere to the rod 14 and will be raised the next upward' movement of this rod.

aising of the contact disks on the relay B will shift the control circuit from the resistance r2 to the coil of the contactor 1 and the maofnetizing coil of the relay C as in the case o the relay A and the switch 4. 1n this way the contactors will close in succession as long as the master switch is held in its position y, un-

less thev current in the motor circuit rises to a value suicient to open the contacts of the overload relay O, thereby interrupting the circuit through the armature of the pilot motor 'P and stop ing it. When the last relay D has pulled) up the circuit throu h the resistance r will be interru ted and t e armature of the pilot motor will no longer be supplied with current and will, therefore, cease to rotate. It is to be observed that when al1 the relays have pulled up and the contactors are all closed, the magnetizing coils 16 of the relays and the actuating coils of the contactors will all be connected tothe source in series and the compensating revwitchis thrown back toits oil position said core is arranged for movement, an ac first named core, and a coll for producing .A so

,art that my invention vmay be embodied in `and out of engagement with said movable ceases the relays will, of course, all drop and the eontactors all open.- f

rIhe particular systems of control above described are to be understood as being merely illustrative of the principlesof my mvention.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the many other constructions and arrangementsl without de arting from the spirit thereof. For examp e, many diiierent arrangements may be employed for giving a reciprocating motion to lthe actuating members. lt is-jmy intention to cover all-such arrangements in the following claims.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. ln ar switch, a movable member of magnetic material, 'an actuating member of inagnetic material arranged for movement into member, and a magnetizing coil which when energized produces magnetic adhesion between said actuating member and said movable member and retains said movable member in the osition to which it is moved by said actuatm ymember.

2. A switc comprising a xed contact member, a movable contact member coperating therewith, an actuating member coperatlng with said movable contact member, and a magnetizing coil for producing magnetic adhesion between said actuating member and said movable contact member and for magnetically retaining the latter in one extreme position of movement.

3. A switch comprising a fixed contact member, a movable contact member coperating therewith, a core of magnetic material secured to said movable Contact member, a frame of `magnetic material within which tuating core of magnetic material arranged for movement withm said frame and in cooperative relation to said iirst named core, means for moving said actuating core, and a magnetizing coil mounted in said frame and arranged to produce magnetic adhesion between said cores and serving to magnetically retain the first named core in one extreme' position of movement.

4. A plurality of switches, each lhaving a movable member, a core of magnetic material forming a part thereof, a second core of magnetic material arranged for movement into and out of engagement with said magnetic adhesiongbetween said cores, in combination with means for reciprocating said second mentioned cores, and means for causing energization of said magnetizing coils on the switches in succession, whereby the movable members of said 'switches are operated in succession.

l5. A. plurality of switches,V each havingl a movable member of magnetic material, an actuating member of magnetic material arranged for movement into and out of engagement with said movable member, and a magnetizing coil for producing magnetic adhesion between said actuating member -nnd said movable member. in combination with means for reciprocating said actuating members,` and means for causing energization of said magnetizing coils insuccession, whereby the movable membersY of said switches are moved in succession by said actuating members.

6. A plurality of switches, each having a movable member of magnetic material, an actuating member of magnetic'm'aterial arranged for movement into and out of en gagement with said movable member, and a magnetizing coil arranged when energized toproduce a magnetic adhesion between said actuating member and said movable member and to magnetically hold said movable member in one of its extreme positions of movement after the same has been moved by said actuating member, in combination with means for reciprocating said actuating members, and means for causing Aenergization of said magnetizing coils in succession.

7. A plurality of switches, each having a movable member of magnetic material, an actuating member of magnetic material arranged for movement into and out of engagement with said movable member, and a magnetizing coil arranged when energized to produce magnetic adhesion between said actuating member and said movable member, in combination with electrically operated means for reciprocating said actuating members, and means for causing energization of said magnetizing coils in succession.

8. A plurality of switches, each having a movable member of magnetic material, an actuating member of magnetic material arranged for movement into and out of engagement with said movable member, and a magnetizing coil arranged when energized to produce magnetic adhesion between said actuating member and said movable member, in combination with electromagnetically operated means for reciprocating saidactuatmg members, and means for causing energization of said magnetizing coils 1n succession.

v9. A plurality of switches, each having a movable member ,of magnetic material, an actuating member of magnetic material arranged for movement into and out of engagement with said movable member, and

n a magnetizing coil arranged when energized to produce maonetic adhesion between said actuating memier and said movable member and to magnetically hold said movable member in the position to which it is moved by said actuating member, in combination with electromagnetically operated means for reciprocating said actuating members, and means for causing energizatlon of said magnetizing coils in succession.

10. In a system of motor control, a motor, a starting resistance therefor,'a plurality of contactors arranged to regulate the amount of resistance in the motor circuit, relays co erating with said contactors and contro ling the operation of the same, each having a movable member of magnetic material, an actuating member of vmagnetic material arranged for movement into and out of engagement with said movable member, and a magnetizing coil arranged when energized to produce magnetic adhesion between said actuating member and said movable member, in combination with means for reciprecating said actuating members, and means for causing energization of said magnetizing coils in succession.

11. ln a system of motor control, a motorJg a starting resistance therefor, a plurality or contactors arranged to regulate the amount of resistance in the motor circuit, relays cooperating with said contactors and controlling the operation of the same, each having a movable member of magnetic material, an actuatin member of magnetic material arranged or movement into and out of engagement with said movable member, a magnetizing coil arranged When energized to produce magnetic adhesion between said material arranged for movement actuating member and said movable member, in combination with means for reciprocating said actuatingmembers, means for causing energization oisaid magnetizing coils in succession, and an overload responsive means for regulating the operation of said reciprocating means.

l2. In a system of motor control, a motor a starting resistance therefor, a plurality of contactors arranged to regulate the amount of resistance in the motor circuit, relays cooperating With said contactors, each having a movable member of ma netic material, an actuating member o magnetic into and out of engagement with said movable member, a magnetizing coil arran ed when energized to produce magnetic a hesion between said actuating member and said movable member, and contacts controlled by said relays for completing the circuit through the actuating coil of a corresponding contactor, throu h the magnetizing coil of the succeeding re ay, in combination with means for reciprocating said actuating members.

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of November, 1908.

EUGENE R. CRlCHOFF.

Witnesses: BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN RFORD. 

